It remains to be seen if Real can persuade him to stay but United are willing to go all out to land their former No.7.

The Red Devils are ready to make David De Gea part of a world-record £175m package to re-sign Ronaldo.

But would that be a good deal, such is De Gea's importance in recent seasons.

We asked our Mirror Football reporters for their thoughts on the matter.

Mike Walters - YES

Will Ronaldo return? (Image: AFP)

Swap De Gea for Ronaldo? It's a no-brainer - as long as money's no object and you don't mind the obscene numbers which would swill around the market if it happened.

On a purely football basis, the blessed Cristiano is 32 and, with respect, he can't go on forever scoring a goal-a-game and commanding presidential reverence on the pitch.

But he might have another two or three years playing at an impossibly high level, and just think of all the replica shirt sales he would generate - you can bet United's bean-counters have already done the calculation.

Money will be no object for United if they're to sign Ronaldo (Image: AFP)

And if United lose David De Gea, who has been a colossal influence at Old Trafford, there are other world-class goalkeepers out there: Joe Hart, for instance, is available and Jose Mourinho only needs to catch the tram across town to land him.

But for any player-plus-cash deal to happen, the sums of money involved would be so fanciful that Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage might even think twice before daubing them on the side of a campaign bus.

Ronaldo would cost £175 million plus £400,000-a-week - that's £20m a year - and would be the most hideous evidence yet that football has lost all touch with economic reality.

United's net debt is already £409m - try walking into your local bank and asking for a mortgage of that size and you'll get short shrift - and the outlay involved to bring Ronaldo back to Old Trafford would risk it climbing even higher.

Yes, I'd love to see him make a curtain call in the Premier League... but if it happens, what are the odds that Manchester City will return fire by breaking the bank to bring Lionel Messi to the Etihad?

James Nursey - YES

Ronaldo celebrates one of his two strikes for Real Madrid in the Champions League final (Image: Real Madrid via Getty)

I think it would be great for the Premier League and United if Ronaldo returns to England.

We saw in the Champions League final what a superb player he remains despite his advancing years and he could give United the cutting edge they have been missing in the top-flight.

Plus with Zlatan leaving the club, I feel United will need a talismanic figure in the dressing room. Ronaldo can fill that void and i would sacrifice David De Gea to help land him.

De Gea has previously wanted to leave anyway.

I believe Kasper Schmeichel is keen on moving to United to replace the Spaniard and would be a capable replacement.

Darren Lewis - YES

Ronaldo celebrates with the Premier League trophy (Image: Getty)

Ronaldo's ability to become the dominant force in a game has enabled Real Madrid to win the Spanish title and the Champions League with Keylor Navas - a good keeper, not a great one.

With that in mind, yes I would swap De Gea.

Ronaldo would win the Premier League for United and take them a long way in the Champions League.

Matt Lawless - YES

Ronaldo pumps his fist (Image: REUTERS)

It's bonkers but the swap for both players is mutually beneficial.

De Gea is keen, we understand, to return home to Madrid while Ronaldo 'wants' to go back to Manchester.

It would be a crying shame to lose the best goalkeeper in the Premier League. But to replace him with the best player in the world is not a bad exchange.

United have lacked a cutting edge up front and desperately need to be more clinical. Ronaldo can win the league for Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho speaks to Ronaldo (Image: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno)

De Gea did everything he could - but he was never going to score goals. And as we all know, goals win games and points mean prizes.

Closing thought: wouldn't it be great if Pep Guardiola responded by signing Lionel Messi for Manchester City...

Liam Prenderville - YES

Ronaldo celebrates for United (Image: AFP)

Regardless of which side of the fence you sit on, Ronaldo is one of the two best players in the world.

And if he does actually want to move this summer, Manchester United simply cannot pass up the opportunity to sign him.

He will score goals, inspire those around him and likely take United back to the top of the Premier League.

De Gea is a world-class goalkeeper but there are others out there and you can see United moving for Gianluigi Donnarumma if he goes.

James Whaling - NO

De Gea is up there with the world's best (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the best players to kick a football, but is approaching the twilight years of his career. The Portuguese was sensational for United in his first stint at Old Trafford and has gone on to soar incredible heights with Real Madrid.

But realistically, how much longer can he stay at the level he is at now? Compare that to David De Gea who, in goalkeeping terms, is still a young player and arguably has his best years ahead of him.

United would struggle to replace De Gea and the points he has earned them in the last couple of seasons in what has been a bang average side.

De Gea makes a save (Image: Rex Features)

Only Manuel Neuer can hold a candle to the Spaniard in the best goalkeeper in the world debate, with the exception of outgoing Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon.

Short-term - it would be a fantastic move to bring Ronaldo to the Theatre of Dreams, and would maybe justify losing De Gea.

Long-term, it would surely be an error to allow a goalkeeper of such talent to leave the club.

Thomas Bristow - NO

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts (Image: AFP)

Let's get this out of the way, Cristiano Ronaldo is a Red Devils legend and a move would be welcomed with open arms by Manchester United supporters.

But at 32 years of age, the Real Madrid forward's return would be nothing more than the perfect end to a romantic story.

United need more than fairytales, they need a squad with longevity.

Alex Ferguson built his title winning squad with years of adding class to class, and Jose Mourinho needs to do the same. David de Gea is only 26 and already the world's best goalkeeper.

Manchester United's David De Gea makes a save (Image: Reuters)

Just imagine another 14 years of the Spaniard between the sticks at Old Trafford. United, at a push, would only get another three years out of Ronaldo.

The money, stats and maths tell you all you need to know - United wouldn't just be losing de Gea, they'd be losing an added 11 years of star quality.

A return for Ronaldo is still a possibility, but the price of losing de Gea is a price too heavy to pay.